A trespass hearing against a group of people in Glastonbury has been adjourned so they can be represented by a barrister.

Mendip District Council is seeking to remove at least 32 people from a former tannery site at Morlands, some of whom are believed to have lived there for more than ten years.

Previous court hearings determined the site's occupiers were allowed to use Article 8 of the Human Rights Act as a defence.

A three-day hearing was due to start on Wednesday (March 7) but a barrister who agreed to represent the defendants' had informed them two days earlier she would be unable to attend.

Glastonbury mayor Emma George was acting as a McKenzie Friend to the site's occupants and asked for the hearing to be adjourned until a legal representative can attend.

What does the Human Rights Act cover?

Article 8 covers the right to respect for private and family life and states:

Everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, his home and his correspondence.

There shall be no interference by a public authority with the exercise of this right except such as is in accordance with the law and is necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security, public safety or the economic well-being of the country, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.

The judge, recorder Leverne said: "I am not saying we need to back off because it's a Human Rights case, but it is a complex case and they should be represented.

"I am adjourning for three reasons: Firstly it is a high profile case. Secondly, there are many defendants and this is about their home. And lastly, these are complex laws. This is a serious and difficult point of law and it is important for a barrister to be representing them.

"It is most unusual for a barrister to take a pro bono case and not turn up; I have never heard of it. We will see if it is for a good reason or a bad reason.

"But this is absolutely a case where if the defendants want to be represented and they found someone, they should have the chance to have someone."

Given the right of audience by the court, Ms George said she was confident they would be able to find alternative representation if necessary.

Time Line

Morlands travellers timeline

1870

John Morland buys a tannery in Glastonbury because of the “unusual purity” of the water and start their business on the site

1940

Morlands makes flying jackets and boots for the RAF pilots who fought in the Battle of Britain

1980s

The tannery closes and the manufacturing process is moved to a smaller building during the recession

1995

Mendip District Council buys the land of the Morlands site for £1

April 15, 1999

Developers want an additional year to think about potential plans for the Morlands site, which could be a sports facilityA town councillor at the time noted: "I am amazed that for 17 years that place has been derelict and now they have asked for another year."The planning officer pointed out at that time that there was a problem with the smell from the sewage works which prevents houses being built near that site. She says: “We expect Wessex Water to object to any development on that site because of the conflict with their activities.”

August 20, 1999

Wells Constituency MP David Heathcoat-Amory pledges to put the redevelopment of the Morlands site at the top of his agenda. The MP says the site is now an eyesore and a hazard and is an appalling advertisement for Glastonbury and Street.

November 2000

A spokesman for the Regional Development Agency confirmed that it was in consultation with Mendip District Council and the relevant landowners to potentially take over the Morlands site and see through its redevelopment.

April 2, 2001

The South West Regional Development Agency announces that it has secured the sale of the Morlands site and work to demolish the buildings could start within 12 months.

2007 and earlier

The travellers arrive in at the top of Beckery New Road. Mendip District Council and Somerset Council promised swift action, saying: "We are exploring every avenue as quickly as we can to find a solution to this problem.

“We are holding urgent meetings with police and legal services to speed this up.”

Spring 2011

The "tolerated" settlement on part of the old Morlands factory site comes under fire during a town council meeting, in which Mendip District Council announces there had been discussions about making the site an official transit camp

July 2011

The remaining land at the Morlands site is sold to developers. A local charity takes over the Bailey's buildings.

December 2015

Talks are under way to provide a mixed use facility suitable for the emergency services at the Morlands site. Mendip says it will work with the travellers to help them find alternative homes if necessary.

January 31, 2017

A Mendip District Council official visits the site and warns people there that the council is planning to repossess the land

March 22, 2017

The travellers are served an eviction notice and vow to fight it

April 7, 2017

Mendip District Council is preparing to go to court, claiming the site is not acceptable for residential development

April 10, 2017

Town councillors try to fight the district council decision. They have put in FOI requests to find out which odour surveys the district council is basing their decision to evict on. So far, Mendip District Council has been exempt from answering to the request.

April 18, 2017

In a town council meeting, councillors reveal the district council made them members a confidentiality agreement before discussing the issue in public.

April 20, 2017

Wessex Water tells Somerset Live the last odour modelling test was carried out in 2014. This is important because Mendip District Council claims smells from a sewage plant nearby make it unsuitable for a camp.

May 2017

Mendip District Council confirms court proceedings have started to evict the travellers

May 2017

Court date is set for July 17 at Yeovil County Court

July 13

In a letter, a Glastonbury town councillor accuses Mendip District Council of trying to conceal documents concerning the Morlands site

July 14, 2017

Court date is postponed

July 18

New date for hearing is set for July 31

October 5, 2017

Yeovil County Court rules the Human Rights Act is an arguable defence

February 7, 2018

Glastonbury mayor Emma George to act as McKenzie Friends and assist with case papers and advise people in court during hearings

March 7, 2018

Trial adjourned to allow defendants to arrange legal representation

April 2018

Three-day hearing is set to take place in Bristol in June

June 20

The hearing starts at Bristol County Court

June 22

The hearing is extended by another two days to hear more evidence.

The dates are set for July 18 and 19.

July 19

Summaries are heard. The judge will now weigh up both sides and the verdict is expected at the earliest convenient date, expected to be September

September 13

The court rules on the case.

18 named travellers and any unnamed residents on the site have to leave the premises by September 27 at 4pm.

The case is dismissed against 12 travellers as evicting them would interfere with their human rights.

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